The desert stretch of the Little Wood River is like nothing you will ever see anywhere else.

The prime fishing area begins where Silver Creek joins Little Wood.

The Taylor/Williams Recreations Area near Richfield is primarily catch and release fishing.

Overview

As a key source of irrigation for Eastern Blaine County, the Little Wood River is a vital part of the area. It is known mostly as a desert river, and the surrounding flat land and sagebrush is evidence why.

The desert stretch of the Little Wood River is like nothing you will ever see anywhere else. It has the look of a spring creek in the water and the look of a desert freestone stream around the water. This is due to the fact that the river flows through open flat land marked with ancient lava flows. The river cuts through Basalt rock and has many deep runs lined with Basalt cliffs about 30 to 40 feet high.

Location & Information

The Little Wood River flows through South-Central Idaho for almost 90 miles. Starting in the Pioneer Mountains and flowing south it meets up with Silver Creek just few miles southeast of Picabo.

Idaho Fish and Wildlife: (208) 334-3700

Rafting

Highway 75 to the Little Wood River stretch of the Big Wood River is roughly 14 miles long and has been rated as a Class I-III section for Whitewater rafting. It is easy to make this ride an overnight trip. There are also several sections on this river for paddling – either your canoe or kayak. This stretch, like so many other rivers in Idaho, tends to be harder to run than those found in other states, so be prepared and remember that these rivers tend to be less forgiving.

Fishing

With few access points, anglers must often ask landowners if they may walk through their land, and are usually allowed. Because of this, the Little Wood is uncrowded most of the time, leaving anglers plenty of fish to catch.

While the river begins about 50 miles southeast of Ketchum, the prime fishing area begins where Silver Creek joins Little Wood. There is great variety of water to fish and it is home mostly to rainbow and brown trout. There is only one area that is primarily catch and release, the Taylor/Williams Recreation Area, near Richfield.

Although this river can be fished year round, the best time to experience it would be in June and again in late summer and fall. A fishing license is required.